Amos Moses

Jerry Reed

About Amos Moses

"Amos Moses" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Jerry Reed. It was released in October 1970 as the fourth and final single from the album Georgia Sunshine and was his highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, bowing at #97 on October 31, 1970 and peaking at #8 on February 27 & March 6, 1971. It has been used ever since as a line dance taught at YMCAs. "Amos Moses" was certified gold for sales of 1 million units by the RIAA. It was #28 on Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1971 and also appeared on several other countries' charts.  


Year:
1982
53 
#1

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Yeah, here comes Amos
Now Amos Moses was a Cajun
He lived by himself in the swamp
He hunted alligator for a living
He'd just knock them in the head with a stump
The Louisiana law gonna get you, Amos
It ain't legal hunting alligator down in the swamp, boy

Now everyone blamed his old man
For making him mean as a snake
When Amos Moses was a boy
His daddy would use him for alligator bait
Tie a rope around his neck and throw him in the swamp
Alligator bait in the Louisiana bayou
About forty-five minutes southeast of Thibodaux, Louisiana
Lived a man called Doc Mills South and his pretty wife Hannah
Well, they raised up a son that could eat up his weight in groceries
Named him after a man of the cloth
Called him Amos Moses, yeah

Now the folks around south Louisiana
Said Amos was a hell of a man
He could trap the biggest, the meanest alligator
And he'd just use one hand
That's all he got left 'cause an alligator bit it
Left arm gone clear up to the elbow

Well the sheriff caught wind that Amos was in the swamp trapping alligator skin
So he snuck in the swamp gonna get the boy
But he never come out again
Well I wonder where the Louisiana sheriff went to
Well you can sure get lost in the Louisiana bayou
About forty-five minutes southeast of Thibodaux, Louisiana
Lived a cat called Doc Mills South and his pretty wife Hannah
Well, they raised up a son that could eat up his weight in groceries
Named him after a man of the cloth
Called him Amos Moses

Sit down on 'em Amos! 
Make it count son
About forty-five minutes southeast of Thibodaux, Louisiana
Lived a man called Doc Mills South and his pretty wife Hannah

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Jerry Reed

Jerry Reed Hubbard (March 20, 1937 – September 1, 2008), known professionally as Jerry Reed, was an American country music singer, guitarist, and songwriter, as well as an actor who appeared in more than a dozen films. His signature songs included "Guitar Man," "A Thing Called Love," "Alabama Wild Man," "Amos Moses", "When You're Hot, You're Hot" (which garnered a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance), "Ko-Ko Joe", "Lord, Mr. Ford", "East Bound and Down" (the theme song for the 1977 blockbuster Smokey and the Bandit, in which Reed co-starred), "The Bird," and "She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)". more »

3 fans

Written by: Jerry Reed

Lyrics © HORI PRO ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Song Composition
"Amos Moses" was both written and performed by Jerry Reed, a country musician popular in the 1970s.
Chart Performance
In 1971, "Amos Moses" peaked at No. 8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking it as one of Jerry Reed's most successful singles.
Song Duration
The official studio version of "Amos Moses" lasts about 2 minutes and 19 seconds making it a standard-length song for its era.
Album
It was featured on the album "Georgia Sunshine" which was released in 1970.
Lyrics Theme
The song tells the story of a one-armed alligator hunter named Amos Moses, living in the swamp lands of Louisiana.
Country Music Awards
"Amos Moses" was nominated for a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
Dance Craze
During the 1970s, several line dances were choreographed to "Amos Moses", contributing to its popularity.
Movie Soundtracks
The song has been featured in the soundtracks of several films, including "When We Were Kings" (1996) and "U.S. Marshals" (1998).
Cover Versions
Several musicians and bands have covered "Amos Moses", including country rock band Cross Canadian Ragweed and bluegrass band Mountain Heart.
Inspiration
Jerry Reed said in interviews that he was inspired to write this song by a fishing trip he once took in Louisiana.
Certification
"Amos Moses" was certified gold by the RIAA in April 1971, recognizing sales of one million units.
Music Video
Despite being written in the early '70s, a music video for "Amos Moses" wasn't released until 2009.
Song Style
The song combines elements of country, Cajun, and funk music, making it a unique hit in Reed's catalogue.
Unique Instrumentation
The song includes a guitar "hook" played by Reed that's designed to mimic the rhythm and sound of a chugging train.
Resurgence in Popularity
The song saw a resurgence in popularity in the mid-2000s when it was included in the music rhythm video game, "Rock Band".

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    Amos Moses

    8.9M
    46,204     1,592

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1971

    Billboard #8


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